This Week in Virology

TWiV 1314: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

Apr 18, 2026
Daniel Griffin, an infectious disease clinician who gives weekly clinical updates, walks through vaccine confidence concerns and a delayed CDC report. He covers measles outbreaks and tracking tools, trends in influenza, RSV and COVID-19, new prevention and treatment options for immunocompromised and pediatric patients, and resources for long COVID and contacting policymakers.
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INSIGHT

Poll Questions Skew Vaccine Safety Perceptions

  • Poll wording drives perceptions of vaccine safety more than underlying beliefs.
  • Vincent and Daniel argue biased questions like “are facts on vaccines up for debate?” produce misleading results and normalize anti-vaccine views.
INSIGHT

Political Interference Delayed Positive COVID Vaccine Data

  • CDC leadership interference delayed publication of an MMWR showing COVID vaccines cut ER visits 50% and hospitalizations 55%.
  • Daniel and Vincent view political appointee review as inappropriate and likely politically motivated.
ANECDOTE

Researcher Woken By Vampire Bat While Studying CWD

  • Peter Larson was awakened in Guyana by a vampire bat feeding on his feet, illustrating how unnoticed bat exposures occur.
  • The Journal of Mammalogy paper links vampire bat feeding on CWD-positive cervids to potential prion spread and surveillance needs.
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